PENTECOST 2020

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Today is Pentecost Sunday!

“Pentecost is a Christian holy day that celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit 40 days after Easter. Some Christian denominations consider it the birthday of the Christian church and celebrate it as such. Originally, Pentecost was a Jewish holiday held 50 days after Passover.”

The Scriptures describing the day of Pentecost can be found in Acts 2:1-4.  

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” Acts‬ ‭2:1-4‬ ‭NASB‬‬

LORD! We beseech You to move once again in POWER upon and in Your people! Empower us through Your Holy Spirit to be Your body upon this earth! May the FLAME of YOUR LOVE burn brightly within us!! RISE UP, most HOLY ONE, and show Yourself in all Your glory!! AMEN!!

Memorial Day Thoughts 2020

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“Memorial Day commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. In other words, the purpose of Memorial Day is to memorialize the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. We spend time remembering those who lost their lives and could not come home, reflecting on their service and why we have the luxury and freedom that we enjoy today. We might consider how we can support and safeguard their grieving families and loved ones who are left behind.” (almanac.com)

I have never personally known someone who died while fighting in wartime or serving overseas.  So, I know that I can never truly know the pain and suffering of those that have lost loved ones who “made the ultimate sacrifice.”

But, I do want to take the time to REMEMBER and HONOR all of our fallen heroes. Your sacrifice will forever be woven into the history, the now, and the future of our country.  

I see your sacrifice as golden threads woven into the tapestry of the United States. Those threads allow our country to shine, allow us to stand proudly, and allow us to walk into the future carrying the flag of freedom. May we never take it for granted!  May we never forget!    ~Tina Roach

“Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.” ~Franklin D.Roosevelt

Thanksgiving & Prayer

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“I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Ephesians‬ ‭1:15-23‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

What powerful scriptures of thanksgiving and prayer! Do you ever think about using scripture as a basis for your prayers? As I read this today, I wanted to use it not only as a groundwork for writing my devotional, but to use it to pray for you.

Brothers & Sisters, I love hearing about your faith in Jesus and your love towards others as we continue on this life journey through the covid-19 season.  I am indeed thankful for all you do!

I pray that as you draw closer to the Lord:

  1. a spirit of wisdom and revelation will enlighten the eyes of your heart.
  2. You may know what is the hope to which He has called you.
  3. You may know what are the riches of His glorious inheritance.
  4. You may know what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe.

Father God has put this great power to work in Jesus when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in heavenly places.  This is the immeasurable power that is at work for us!

Jesus is far above all rule and authority and power and dominion. He is above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.

Father God has put all things under Jesus’ feet and has made Him the head over all things for the church.

We, the church, are the body of Christ. And as His body, we have His fullness – His presence, His power, His wisdom, His revelation, and the riches of His glorious inheritance. HALLELUJAH!!

DURING THESE DAYS OF LACK…MAY WE REMIND OURSELVES OF ALL THAT WE POSSESS!!! AMEN!

Counsel of the Lord

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⁣Without counsel plans fail, but with advisors they succeed. ⁣ Proverbs 15:22⁣
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⁣Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭1:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬⁣
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⁣God does not expect us to figure things out by ourselves. As we travel this road of life, there are choices and decisions that must be made, plans that need to be fulfilled. ⁣
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⁣It is okay and even to our benefit to seek out the counsel of others. But, it is important to be aware of whose counsel we listen to. In Psalms we are reminded that we should not walk in the counsel of the wicked, but delight in the law of the Lord. ⁣
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⁣We are told in Proverbs that with many advisors our plans will succeed. But, we need to make sure that we don’t remove the Lord from our decision-making process. Yes, listen to the counsel and advice of others. But, remember to take it to the Lord before making the final decision. He knows exactly what we should do and when we should do it. And He knows exactly what we shouldn’t do!⁣
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⁣May we take the time to go to the perfect Counselor and put our plans in His hands. And may we know that He will guide and direct us in His perfect will. ⁣
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⁣Thank You, Lord, for loving us and for helping us as we journey with each other and with You. Help us, Lord, to seek Your guidance, Your will, and Your presence in everything we do. Thank You for not leaving us to figure things out apart from You. We are so thankful! ⁣

O MY SOUL

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“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭42:11 ‭ESV‬‬

I don’t know about you, but sometimes my soul does get “downcast.”  Other words that describe this state are – dejected, sad, depressed, discouraged, and disappointed. 

I think we all have those days. How do we rise above those feelings?  How do we get our soul (mind, will, and emotions) to leave the position of being “cast down” to one of being “uplifted?”

Have you ever thought about speaking to your soul?  This is what is happening in this passage of scripture. If you are someone who has ever engaged in “talking to yourself” – you now know that it is scriptural!!  😃

As we read this verse, we see that the solution to the soul’s downcast state is to hope in God, praise Him, and to remember who He is – our salvation and God!

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves (speak to our souls) of God’s goodness and how we should respond to Him. As we move our attention from ourselves to God Almighty, our feelings of depression and discouragement begin to fall away. 

Oh my soul, why are you discouraged? Jesus is my salvation and Lord! The Lord loves me. He is faithful, strong, and true! He is my Rock and my Redeemer! Oh my soul, why are you cast down within me? By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me! Oh my soul! Hope in God! Even in my discouragement, yet will I praise Him!

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God… Psalm 42:1-2

~~Tina Roach

DON’T STOP!

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⁣“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”⁣
⁣‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬⁣
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⁣Yesterday was the National Day of Prayer – a day when we are called to unite our hearts as one and pray for our nation, our leaders, and our communities. I love that we have this set aside time to join together as a nation! It also is a reminder that prayer is important. It makes a difference. It is needed. ⁣
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⁣But, I also would like to take this time – the day following this National Day of Prayer – to remind us that EVERY DAY is a day of prayer! Prayer makes a difference and is needed every day of our lives. It is an ongoing, continual communication with our Lord. We are to “pray without ceasing.” In other words, DON’T STOP!!⁣
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⁣Don’t stop praying just because we may not feel like it. Feelings have nothing to do with it. We pray because God desires us to do it and also because it is through prayer that our lives and circumstances can be changed. WE are changed!!⁣
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⁣We are to rejoice (feel joy, celebrate, triumph) and be thankful in all circumstances! We may not feel joy or be thankful FOR the circumstances…but we feel joy because God is with us IN the circumstances. He is within us to enable us to GO THROUGH and to COME OUT victorious and stronger! HALLELUJAH!!⁣
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⁣May we come into alignment with the WILL OF GOD:⁣
⁣1) rejoice always⁣
⁣2) Pray without ceasing⁣
⁣3) Give thanks in all circumstances⁣
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⁣Thank You, Lord, for always being with us to enable us to carry out Your will. We do not have to rejoice, pray, and give thanks apart from You! YOU give us the words, YOU give us the strength, YOU give us the desire to walk in obedience to You. We join You in our journey… day-by-day, hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute. AMEN!!⁣
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~Tina Roach⁣
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